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John, Yesterday, a local news story about a 63-year old man who died in my district’s jail shook me to the core. Floyd Jackson was being held on a $200 bond on a warrant for failing to comply with driving on a suspended license. We will not know for a while the cause of his death or the specific circumstances. They are only marginally important. What is relevant is that we incarcerate people because they can’t pay $200. Floyd spent the last hours of his life not with friends or family, but in a cold jail cell. On January 22, 20-year old Kyle died in the same jail because he didn’t have $6,500 for his bond. He died from untreated pneumonia while his cry for help was ignored. He could have walked into any emergency room and get treated; and may have lived if he only had bail money. Some will speculate that Floyd may have died anyhow and it just happened in jail. Some will suggest that we need to better train staff that cares for inmates. For me the issue is more fundamental: should somebody’s wealth and personal financial situation decide where they await processing of their case? If we truly believe in a just society where all have equal rights, then the answer must be NO. If people are safe to be around a person who is accused of a crime but pays their bail, then they are safe to be around that person. Period. We need to end mass incarceration and reform our justice system. Are you with me? Eva
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